A recent Twitter discussion (really, I need to do a better job of keeping up with these things) hosted by children’s book app developer Ruckus Media brought to light some of the things librarians, teachers, and other kid lit fans want to see in App-land. For an article about the conversation, see this article over at The Digital Shift.
It’s probably a good thing I didn’t participate in the discussion. The education professionals who were concerned about applicability to curriculum wouldn’t have liked the tangential thoughts I have about apps for kids, and the discussion was focused on children’s book apps. I’m thinking big-picture here: cast aside the trappings of the tactile media we’re accustomed to, and bring about an entertainment and education revolution! When I was a kid, the idea of a fully functional touch-screen seemed so futuristic that it was impossible. But here it is! And it’s just the beginning!
I love traditional books, but I blame my novelty book training for fostering a mind that sees a format and tries to take it into a new realm entirely. Pages, smages. Interact! Let the reader create the story and turn the book into a world of its own! With apps–yes, even book apps–I deeply feel that the rules can be broken much more and in ways I can’t yet imagine.
I can’t wait to see how technology develops. Forget some of the scary stuff like vanishing privacy and legal issues. Set that aside for a minute and come back to it later. Now, let’s have fun!
Feel free to suggest any groundbreaking children’s apps in the comments. I’d love to see them.